TEL AVIV — A prior ban on putting Christmas trees in the squares of the Arab section of Upper Nasira or Nazareth which is adjacent to Nazareth, referred to as the childhood home of Jesus Christ, will continue this year, according to a report by Turkish Radio Television.

The mayor of Upper Nazareth Shimon Gapso has claimed that the neighborhood is Jewish and putting Christmas trees in the squares is provocative.

He said further that no Christmas trees would be placed in the city so long as he remained as its mayor.

Besides the Christian Arabs, Russian orthodox groups and Muslims live in Upper Nazareth, while half of its population is Jewish.

The mayor is notorious for having said, regarding the Gaza attacks in which 1400 Palestinians were killed, that if he were in the administration in 2000, he would have killed more Palestinians. He has also denied permission for the opening of a school and a mosque in Upper Nazareth for Palestinians and banned the call for prayers from the minaret.

Gapso had an investigation launched about him two months ago into allegations of bribe-taking and corruption.